Le Bernardin
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 554-1515
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- Directions:
- B, D, F, V at 47-50th Sts
- Specialties:
- Fine Dining
- Best of Citysearch:
- Seafood 2006, Fine Dining 2005
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 12pm-2:30pm, 5:15pm-10:30pm, Fri 12pm-2:30pm, 5:15pm-11pm, Sat 5:15pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Le Bernardin – by Allison Austin
The Scene
Teak ceilings soar above well-spaced tables appointed with caramel leather chairs; the occasional Asian accent provides color and flair. And while a few serious food-lovers may be spotted, perhaps at corner tables, it's suit-and-tie businessmen that abound, sealing deals over efficiently paced tasting menus. Professional servers keep things flowing effortlessly, if somewhat humorlessly.
The Food
Chef Eric Ripert's French seafood is expertly cooked. Escolar is poached in olive oil until exquisitely tender; barely cooked scallops, prawns and clams happily loll in a decadent, buttery sauce topped with sea urchin and caviar. A flight of four fluke ceviches is equally intriguing. But the knockouts just barely outnumber the less-inspired dishes, such as salmon carpaccio out-muscled by its yuzu accompaniment, and a similarly unbalanced dish of lobster and bacon-laced sauerkraut. Desserts, however, don't disappoint, particularly the milk chocolate-caramel egg with a wisp of sea salt.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoIn addition to a $40 dollar lunch, there are two tasting menus: a $135 "Le Bernardin" menu ($140 with wine pairings) and an eight course "chef's" menu for $180 ($320 with wine parings).
User Reviews for Le Bernardin
06/26/2008 Posted by chiway
Meal: Chef's Tasting Menu with Wine Pairing... I think this is the best meal I've ever had in my life. I think Eric Ripert should run for President. I think everyone in this world should be able to have a culinary experience like this at least once. I think who needs heaven when there is Le Bernardin.
Pros: EVerything
Cons: Couldn't you make it just a little cheaper so more people could try it?
03/17/2008 Posted by Chefwannabe
We went to Le Bernardin for the first, and hopefully not the last time on Saturday night. I have never had seafood prepared and presented in such wondrous ways in my life. We opted for the Chef's tasting menu, and I elected to get the paired wines, which was very astute of me, considering the stunning variety of the courses. I felt the service was the most professional I've had in this country, and when considering that I've dined at places like Michael Mina, Babbo, Vong, Eleven Madison Park, and Cyrus, to name but a few, that is no small accomplishment. All of the aforementioned establishments had stellar service, in my view, and yet Le Bernardin still was in a league by itself. Our waiter was obviously French, and the young woman who was our sommelier was obviously American. They both did a wonderful job making us feel comfortable and relaxed, and ensured the pacing of the courses was neither rushed nor slow. The food itself was a near-religious experience, especially in terms of perfection of cooking technique. The flavors were all so intense, and yet so subtly matched and blended, that I cannot recall anything, anywhere even approaching it on that plane. The wine pairings were, for my personal taste, superb. I cannot even imagine trying to select only one or two wines to go with the seven or eight courses presented. I have never had such a perfectly integrated dining experience in my life. There were no glitches, fumbles, or any faux pas of any sort throughout the evening, and for a brief interval, I felt like the king of New York. If you can afford it, and the expense is enormous for most people, I highly recommend the Chef's Tasting Menu with the recommended paired wines, unless you are such an accomplished and experienced oenophile that you feel challenged to attempt the pairing yourself. Le Bernardin has become to me a standard by which all other restaurants should be judged, especially in the seafood realm. Go there at least one before you die.
Pros: Ambience, service, food, wine unmatched
Cons: Cost is stunning for most people. You do get what you pay for, though.
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